Portable power saw for cutting timber or the like



MayZO, 1952 PORTABLE POWER SAW FOR CUTTING TIMBER OR THE LIKE Filed May 9, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 75?

ATTORNEYS May 20, 1952 McKlNsTRY 2,597,017

PORTABLE POWER SAW FOR CUTTING TIMBER OR THE LIKE 7 Filed May 9, 1949 3 SheetsSheet 2 IN VENT OR.

ATTU R N EYE May 1952 A. R. MOKINSTRY PORTABLE POWER SAW FOR CUTTING TIMBER OR THE LIKE 3 SheetsSheet 3 Filed May 9, 1949 YINVENTOR. 7f

Patented May 20, 1952 PORTABLE POWER SAW FOR. CUTTING TIIVIBER OR THE'LIKE Alston It. McKinstry, Brunswick, Ga., assignor to Kut-Kwick Tool Corporation, Brunswick, Ga;

Application May 9, 1949, Serial No. 92,131

7 Claims. (Cl. 1 13- 13X This invention relates to portable power units wherein a motor or engine is mounted on a pair of traction wheels andprovided with means for actuating a power saw, post hole auger, or other implements or devices, and in particular a car-' riage mounted on wheels and carrying an engine witna shaft carrying a circle saw on the outer end extended from the carriage and in which means is provided in the carriage for turning the saw through an angle of 90 whereby the saw is mounted for use-in both horizontal and vertical positions. 'll'le-purpose of" this ihvention is to provide a portable power unit for operating a saw inthe field, which may also be used for other devices, and in' which the saw or tool carrying arbor, which is suspended from theunit is operatively adjustable for use in horizontal and vertical positions.

The usual type of power saw is built to operate with the saw in 'a vertical position and i'sgenerany used for cutting timber with the timber in a horizontal position-on the ground and when it is desired to use a power saw for" cutting trees it is necessary to provide special units; or when'adjustin'g means is provided in aunit't-he unit is too cumbersome for use in the woods. 'With this thought. in'mi'nd. this invention contemplates a power unit having a saw carried onitheiouter end of a shaft extended from the unit in which the unit includes means for turning the shaft through an angle of 90 and in which the driving means includes belts which operate in either position.

The object of this invention is, therefore. to provide means for constructing a power unit iorfield: use in which a saw' or other" tool carried thereby is adjustable for operation in either a horizontal or vertical position.

Another object of the invention is" to provide apower' unithaving a tool carrying arbor suspended therefrom by a shaft in'which the 'shaft is rotated to turn the arbor through an angle of 90'by a hand lever extended from the unit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a power unit for circlesaws and other tools in which means is provided for turning a saw or'tool carrying arbor through an angle of 90; which is of a comparatively simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a carriage including a horizontally disposed base" plate mounted through anaiile on two traction wheelswith the I --"moto'r*i'nounted on the" base-plate; a'ndrbofcar ried in the outer end of a shaitsuspended from the base plate, means for driving the traction wheels from" the motor when it is desired, means for driving a saw or tool carrying arbor, and means for turning the shaft to adjust the positiOIl'Of the said arbor;

Other features and advantages of the inven tion will appear from; the followingdescri-pti'on taken in connectionwith the drawings wher'ein:

Figure 1 is a plan View of thepower unit-showing a saw'op'eratively mounted thereon and in which parts of the handles are broken away.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the unit taken on line 2'Z"of Figure 1 with parts of the handles and also part of the saw broken away. Figure 8 is a plan viewof the unitwith the motor omitted and with thes'aw carrying shaft broken away. I

Figure 'S a detail illustrating the ope'ratihn of the Shifting element's-"of the i t iwer lihitl and taken-on line {-4 of'Figll're 3.-

. aba'se? p'latel lllmolinted ontractionwheel H and i Z througltam axle. I 3, amot dlt' or? engine It, arr index platev I5 actuated. by" a hand lever I16, and 'a-tool carryin'gfarbor I-l rotatably mounted imafyoke'lfi at the outer 'end' of a tubular shaft [9.

The base plate It) is provided with a continuous downwardly extended flang -2o: in wnicnthe axle l's ishxedlymounted; The wheels It and I? are rotataiiiymountee en the" sine and the wheels are provided witn perrorateu r ings If and 22 that mesh with s'proekets 2-3 and 24 respectively, the rockets being: m untee ona' shaft 25* that is V j-l lijnaled" in aslee e 23 the endsof links 21 and ZB' whiEhaie pivotally mounted'inthe outer ends of" arms 25 and 38; respectively, by bolts" 3'! the armsbeing fixedly mounted on the axle 53' by keys 3?- lnthe'posii'lion shown inFig'urS-2 and 3 'the sprockets arena 24 mesh with-the per- 55-; release the-sprockets from therings the shart25 is drawn upwardly by a shift rod 33, the upper end of which extends through a yoke 34 on a cross bar 35 positioned between the handles 35 and 31. The lower ends of the handles are secured to the base plate I8 by fasteners 38 and 39, and the cross bar 35 is also supported by a strut 49 that is attached to the base plate by a fastener M. The lower end of the strut 49 extends diagonally as shown in Figure 2 and a supporting shoe 42 is pivotally mounted thereon by a bolt 43, and as illustrated in Figures '7 and 8. A toothed segment 44 is provided on the lower end of the strut whereby with the shoe 42 resiliently held between the teeth thereof by a spring 45 the shoe 42 may be adjusted to different positions as illustrated in Figure 8.

The shaft 25 is driven from the motor shaft 46 by a belt 41 trained over a pulley 48 on the motor shaft and the pulley49 on the shaft 45. The motor shaft 46 is also provided with pulleys 59 that are aligned with corresponding pulleys I on the tool arbor I! and belts 52 are trained over these pulleys as illustrated in Figure 2.

The intermediate part of the base plate I9 is resiliently supported from the axle I3 by a spring 53 which is mounted on a bracket 54 that is clamped on the axle by a bolt 55, as illustrated in Figure 6. The base plate is provided with an opening 56 having a depending flange 51 and also an opening 58 having a depending flange 59.

The tubular shaft I9 is mounted on the base plate I9 through bearing brackets 69 and 6|, and the indexing plate I5, which is formed as illustrated in Figure 4 is fixedly mounted, preferably by welding on the shaft. The lever I6 is pivotally mounted on a bolt 62 between flanges 63 and 64 of the index plate and this lever is provided with pins 65 and 66 that are positioned to extend into openings 67 and 68, respectively in the index plate, as shown in Figure 5. A locking pin 69 having a tapered end is mounted in a tube 70 and positioned whereby the said tapered end extends into one of the openings 61 or 68 of the index plate to lock the index plate in the position shown in full lines in Figure 4 or in the position shown by the dot and dash lines II. The tube I9 is threaded in a socket 12 of the bracket 69 and the outer end is provided with a collar I3 having a handle I4 extended therefrom, by which it may be rotated to adjust the position thereof. A spring I5 is held in the tube by a threaded plug I8 which holds the spring against the pin 69, thereby resiliently urging the tapered end of the pin into the opening of the index plate.

When it is desired to change the position of the saw or other tool on the arbor I! the lever I6 is actuated whereby one of the pins 65 or 86 forces the pin 69 out of the opening, as shown in Figure 5, whereby the index plate is free to turn, and being secured to the shaft I 9, the shaft turns therewith.

In order to frictionally retain the index plate and shaft in adjusted position a toggle is provided which is formed with a bracket 1'! that is pivotally mounted in bearings 18 and I9 on the bearing brackets 60 and GI, respectively, by a pin 89, and a telescoping element formed by a rod 8I in a tube 82 with the tube pivotally mounted on a pin 83 in the base plate I 9 and with the rod 82 pivotally connected to the brackets 11 by a pin 84. A spring 85 is provided on the rod 8| and the tube 82 and the tension of the spring is adjusted by a nut 86 on the threaded end 81 of the rod 8|. The end 81 of the rod is threaded into a socket 88 through which the rod is mounted on the pin 84. The pin 84 is provided with a roller 89 that engages arcuate shoes 90 and 9| on the ends of the index plate and also the arcuate edge 92 of the plate. It will be noted in Figure 4 that as the index plate and shaft I9 are turned the toggle elements will be forced downwardly to the position shown in dot and dash lines whereby force will be constantly applied to the index plate for securing it in adjusted positions.

The yoke I8 is removably mounted on the outer end of the tubular shaft I9 and the arbor I1 is journaled in bearings 93 and 94 thereof, as illustrated in Figure 1. The pulleys 50 and 5| are positioned on the center of the supporting shaft I9 so that the load is directly taken thereby, with the belts of the pulleys straddling the said shaft. A saw 95 or other tool, may be clamped between collars 96 and 91 on the end of the arbor by a nut 98.

With the parts arranged in this manner a saw or other tool carried on the outer end of the shaft I9 may be wheeled to a tree or log with the carriage driven through the wheels II and I2 by the sprockets 23 and 24 and when the power unit is in position the sprockets 23 and 24 are disengaged from the rings 2| and 22 by the shift lever 33, the arms 29 and 30 being retained by stops 99 and I99 shown in Figures 1 and 3, and with the unit resting on the shoe 42 the saw is rotated to cut the tree or log. With the index plate and lever I6 the position of the saw is readily adjustable from the vertical position illustrated to a horizontal position whereby it may be used for cutting trees or the like.

The sleeve I9 which is turned by the handle 14 bears against the surface of the index plate and provides a belt tightener for taking up wear or slack in the belts.

The yoke I8 is provided with a split hub I Ill and the hub is secured in clamping relation with the shaft I9 by bolts I92, whereby the yoke may readily be removed and replaced by another yoke or by a mounting device for holding a tool or the like on the end of the shaft.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable power unit comprising a carriage mounted on wheels, a motor mounted on said carriage, a tool carrying shaft extended from said carriage, tool mounting means on the outer end of said shaft, means driving a tool in the mounting means from the carriage, means turning the shaft and tool mounting means through an angle of 90, means locking the tool mounting means in adjusted positions, and spring actuated toggle levers pivotally mounted on the carriage for fric-v tionally holding the said tool mounting means in adjusted positions.

2. In a portable power unit, the combination which comprises a base plate mounted on wheels, an engine carried by said base plate, handles extended from said base plate, a forwardly extended shaft mounted for turning movement on said base plate, a tool holding arbor carried by the outer end of said shaft, an index plate having spaced openings therein mounted on the shaft and positioned on the said base plate, a spring actuated pin positioned to engage the said openings of the index plate for securing the shaft and means thereon for forcing the said spring actuated pins out of the openings of the index plate for turning the said shaft and arbor, and means driving the arbor from the engine.

3. In a portable power unit, the combination which comp-rises a base plate mounted on wheels, an engine carried by said base plate, handles extended from said base plate, a forwardly extended shaft mounted for turning movement on said base plate, a tool holding arbor carried by the outer end of said shaft, an index plate having spaced openings therein mounted on the shaft and positioned on the said base plate, a spring actuated pin positioned to engage the said openings of the index plate for securing the shaft and tool holding arbor in adjusted positions, a lever pivotally mounted on said index plate and having means thereon for forcing the said spring actuated pins out of the openings of the index plate for turning the said shaft and arbor, and means driving the arbor from the engine.

4. In a portable power unit, the combination which comprises a base plate mounted on wheels, an engine carried by said base plate, handles extended from said base plate, a forwardly extended shaft mounted for turning movement on said base plate, a tool holding arbor carried by the outer end of said shaft, an index plate having spaced openings therein mounted on the shaft and positioned on the said base plate, a spring actuated pin positioned to engage the said openings of the index plate for securing the shaft and tool holding arbor in adjusted positions, a lever pivotally mounted on said index plate and having means thereon for forcing the said spring actuated pins out of the openings of the index plate for turning the said shaft and arbor, means driving the wheels of the units by the engine, and means driving the arbor from the engine.

5. In a portable power unit, the combination which comprises a base plate mounted on wheels, an engine carried by said base plate, handles extended from said base plate, a forwardly extended shaft mounted for turning movement on said base plate, a tool holding arbor carried by the outer end of said shaft, an index plate having spaced openings therein mounted on the shaft and positioned on the said base plate, a spring actuated pin positioned to engage the said openings of the index plate for securing the shaft and tool holding arbor in adjusted positions, a lever pivotally mounted on said index plate and having means thereon for forcing the said spring actuated pins out of the openings of the index plate for turning the said shaft and arbor, a

spring actuated toggle mounted on the base plate and engaging said index plate for resiliently holding the said index plate and shaft, and means driving the arbor from the engine.

6. In a portable power unit, the combination which comprises a base plate mounted, on wheels, an engine carried by said base plate, handles extended from said base plate, a forwardly extended shaft mounted for turning movement on said base plate, a tool holding arbor carried by the outer end of said shaft, an index plate having spaced openings therein mounted on the shaft and positioned on the said base plate, a spring actuated pin positioned to engage the said openings of the index plate for securing the shaft and tool holding arbor in adjusted positions, a lever pivotally mounted on said index plate and having means thereon for forcing the said spring actuated pins out of the openings of the index plate for turning the said shaft and arbor, means driving the arbor from the engine, and a downwardly extended shoe adjustably mounted on the unit for supporting the unit in operative position.

7. In a portable Power unit, the combination which comprises a base plate mounted on wheels, an engine carried by said base plate, handles extended from said base plate, a forwardly extended shaft mounted for turning movement on said base plate, a tool holding arbor carried by the outer end of said shaft, means removably mounting the tool holding arbor on the outer end of the shaft, an index plate having spaced openings therein mounted on the shaft and positioned on the said base plate, a spring actuated pin positioned to engage the said openings of the index plate for securing the shaft and tool holding arbor in adjusted positions, a lever pivotally mounted on said index plate and having means thereon for forcing the said spring actuated pins out of the openings of the index plate for turning the said shaft and arbor, and means driving the arbor from the engine.

ALSTON R. MCKINSTRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,461,188 Stoner Feb. 8, 1949 2,463,232 Zimicki Mar. 1, 1949 2,480,893 Whittle Sept. 6, 1949 2,497,639 Underwood Feb. 14, 1950 

